Women's Cross Country Runs at Mid-Atlantic Regional Meet

Friday, November 15

Bethlehem, Pa.

11 a.m.

Bucknell University

NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships

Women's Cross Country Runs at Mid-Atlantic Regional Meet

11/15/2019 1:59:00 PM | Women's Cross Country

Ashley Blair Finishes 43rd

Results

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Bucknell University women's cross country team finished 11^th in a field of 31 teams at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship on Friday afternoon, led by junior Ashley Blair's 43^rd place finish.

The Bison totaled 337 points to take 11^th, one spot behind Delaware, and one place ahead of Navy. The Bison took the highest spot of the three participating Patriot League teams, with host Lehigh taking 14^th.

Bucknell, which was ranked 11^th heading into the meet, ended up in that same spot at the conclusion of the race on Friday. The Bison were led by Blair, who was coming off a First Team All-Patriot League effort at the Patriot League Championships on Nov. 2.

Blair, a junior from Selinsgrove, Pa., placed 43^rd overall (21:11.8) on the 6K course to pace the Bison, and was as high as 31^st in the field of 175 at the two-mile mark. Blair was the second-fastest Patriot League runner at the meet, behind Navy's Emily Craig (31^st). Blair put on a strong showing at the Regional meet for the second consecutive year, after placing 36th in 2018.

"Our women were a tad off compared to the league meet, and our lack of experience showed in a meet of this magnitude," said Head Coach Kevin Donner. "We did finish at our ranking and beat a couple teams who beat us during the regular season such as Pitt and Maryland. Overall, it was a very good year for our women considering many thought it would be a rebuilding year."

Ashlyn Ramos, who was one spot behind Blair at the Patriot League meet in sixth, narrowly missed out on a top 50 spot, moving up from 74th after two miles in placing 54^th (21:25.9). Sophomore Olivia Dyer, who earned a third-place finish at the league meet, was 61^st (21:34.3).Emily Deschler (71^st, 21:46.0) and Lauren Gronbeck (108^th, 22:18.0) rounded out Bucknell's scoring runners.

Also competing for the Bison on Friday were Hope Beyer (115^th, 22:25.6) and Nora Bennett (128^th, 22:33.9).

Penn State, ranked 18th in the latest NCAA Cross Country rankings, won the meet with 73 points, four points ahead of No. 28 Villanova (77). Georgetown (91), Princeton (93), and West Virginia (122) took the top five spots. Villanova claimed three of the top four finishers at the meet, including individual champion Lydia Olivere (20:02.0). Kathryn Munks of Penn State, Maggie Smith and Ann Campbell of Villanova, and Madeline Perez rounded out the top five.

The top two teams from each regional qualify for the NCAA Division I cross country championships, with 13 additional at-large bids available for a total of 31 teams. Runners in the top 25 earn All-Region accolades.